Rindge, N.H. (3/26/22) – It was another decisive day for Franklin Pierce softball, battling Saint Michael's College in their first NE10 matchup of the 2022 season. Once again on home turf in a Saturday afternoon double-header, the Ravens handled the Purple Knights in both games, winning the first of two by a 6-0 difference, and mercy-ruling the second by an 11-2 final score.

The pair of victories caps off a record setting day for the Franklin Pierce softball program, who improves to 12-0 on the year, setting a program record for best start to a season. Graduate student Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) also set a major milestone, hitting a trio of home runs between the two games while becoming the program's all-time leader in the category with 20 career home runs hit.

First Game:

Things got off to a slow start for both teams, going scoreless through the first two innings of play. Starting pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) got to work early for Franklin Pierce, starting with a one-two-three first inning while striking out 4 batters through the first three innings, allowing no hits.  

Arriving at the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) broke ground in a big way, sending a long ball triple to right center field, scoring all three runners to put the Ravens ahead 3-0. With Cangiano holding at third base, the follow-up batter Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) singled to left-center, scoring Cangiano from the corner to complete the Ravens four-run inning.

The Ravens would return to action in the fifth inning, with graduate student Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) hitting a solo home run over the right field fence, her fourth of the season, extending the Ravens lead to 5-0.

The bottom of the sixth inning produced what would be the final run for Franklin Pierce in their victory. With runners at second and third, third-year outfielder Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) delivered a grounder up the middle into center field, scoring the runner from third. That would proove to be enough, with the Ravens leaving the score at 6-0 for the victory.

Claiming the shutout, Sabrina Gonzalez improves to 5-0 this season, and finished the day with a career-high 9 strike-outs, holding the Purple Knights to just 4 hits through the full seven innings.

Second Game: 

The Ravens second game of the afternoon started in near exact fashion to the first, with the two squads going scoreless for the first two innings, and the Ravens breaking silence in the bottom of the third.

Junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) found herself on first base off of a fielder's choice by the Purple Knights, and would use the jets to score the first run off a double from graduate Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA). Directly after, sophomore Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) collected her second career home run with a two-run shot to left-center field, quickly making it a 3-0 game.

Looking for more in the fourth inning, with a runner at third base and two outs, Konopinski got to work again sending a shot into the gap in right-center, once again showing off some speed by reaching third base, while adding her 12^th RBI of the season. However, it seemed things were just getting going as freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) scored Konopinski from third base off of a double into left field. Going three hits in a row, and unsatisfied with her solo homer in the first game, Gina Hinckley sent a bomb to left center for her second home run of the day, driving in another two runs and expanding the Ravens lead to 8-0.

However, on the brink of a mercy-rule, the Purple Knights would not go silent through two games, and would score a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-2 game.

The Ravens would finish things up in the sixth inning, with a record-breaking moment sealing the deal. With two runners in scoring position, Gina Hinckley picked up where she left off and delivered her third home run of the afternoon, pushing the Ravens to their eight-run rule triumph.

Senior pitcher Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) started the second game for the Ravens, and with the victory also improved to 5-0 this season, completing the day with 2 strikeouts and 5 hits allowed.

Ravens softball will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for another NE10 double-header matchup against Stonehill College, first pitch scheduled for 11 AM E.T.